Kate is right. I'll add that if our work sticks out above the amateurs, then people will take notice. All too often our reaction to seeing so much amateur competition is to try and become more exclusive. When we do that, we only back ourselves into a corner. Our problem is that there should be at least 10 Residential Architects for every one Commercial Architect to adequately cover the real proportion of buildings being built. We need to expand into the speculative housing market and start raising the bar of expectations. At the top of the boom spec houses represented 80% of the housing industry and over 70% of the building industry as a whole. We're barely getting any of that work. Almost half of my houses on Houzz are spec houses. Say what you will, but the most hits I've received on any single photo is of a carport for a spec house, which has twice as many hits as my next most popular photo of a custom house for a homeowner client.
I have several builders convinced that having me design a custom spec house specific for it's site, a design that will not be repeated, is the reason why they're selling for more and quicker than the cookie cutters. My spec houses are occupied mostly by upper middle income earners who want a better, unique house, but can't afford to custom build or don't have the time or desire to custom build. They all have the same frustration. They can afford something better than a cookie cutter, but there just isn't anything else available. All they have to choose from is a bigger cookie cutter. I have provided that solution and now we're raising the bar of expectations. Folks, this is like shooting fish in a barrel.
People no longer see houses as a commodity, but see them as a home again. They are nesting, not flipping. They care about what they're buying. There are just as many talented builders out there that are frustrated by the whole cookie cutter game and want to do a better job. We need to insert ourselves into this portion of the industry if we ever expect to be taken seriously by the masses. Websites like Houzz, TV channels like HGTV, and home shows will always seem to be excluding us because we are excluding ourselves. We are our own worst enemy. A spec house design problem is a design problem like any other. Are you not up to the task? Trying to create a better house using the same kit of pieces and parts as the competition may not be as sexy as designing a magazine cover house for a billionaire, but it is the ultimate design problem. How do you get Architecture out to the masses?
If we really are better than the amateurs, then the people will respond. If we're really adequately servicing the housing industry with a sufficient amount of projects, then people will respond. We shouldn't have to have special categories and websites to convince people we're better. Our work should speak for itself. Now get out there and assert yourself in more than one small portion of the industry so we can raise expectations the old fashioned way...by earning it!
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Eric Rawlings AIA
Owner
Rawlings Design, Inc.
Decatur GA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-23-2013 18:14
From: Kate Svoboda-Spanbock
Subject: Video
Personally, I think it will be best for Houzz to stay out of it.
The problem is that they sort of have to be nice to everybody, so, for example, while I think it is the truth that having an architect on the project will make every project better, the Houzz people need to be able to say that under X circumstances, you should hire an architect, and under Y circumstances, you should just hire a kitchen shop. Since architects know everything about designing kitchens including when they want to bring in a specialist, the Y circumstance will have to be something that denigrates architects in some way (e.g. costs less not to hire both, or kitchen designers really know the cabinet lines.)
In that they have to generally promote everyone, I don't think there is any way for Houzz to involve itself in promoting architects in any way that doesn't somehow imply that we are incompetent or an additional expense.
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Kate Svoboda-Spanbock AIA, CID
Principal
HERE Design and Architecture
Los Angeles CA
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-22-2013 10:14
From: Steve Marquess
Subject: Video
Houzz has an editorial statement about "choosing the right architect" which does not differentiate among the types of designers listed but makes some very good points. Perhaps they could be persuaded to add some clarification about the sutability of various registered or certified providers for projects of varying scope. Trying to get a separate list of registered architects might actually be worse because more folks might select "designer" than "architect" from the home page.
Also, most of the firms and individuals listed for our metro area haven't bothered to provide a profile (may have never heard of Houzz.) Perhaps if there was an effort to get AIA firms and individuals profiled, the activity would encourage Houzz to revise their handling.
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Steve L. Marquess, AIA, CSI
Harrison French & Associates, Ltd.
Bentonville, AR
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Original Message:
Sent: 07-18-2013 18:39
From: Donald Duffy
Subject: Video
Not very satisfying answer. Where is the AIA on this topic?
Maybe just asking for the license number to beside the name would surface. Without filling in the blank line on the account, the account will no go. If the number is fraudulent the respective Architectural Boards can police what Houzz seams unable to do.
It seams like the masters of the web world could figure out away make it difficult for non architects not get in the category without committing a illegal act.
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Donald Duffy AIA
Don Duffy Architecture
Charlotte NC
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